Improvement in coal-chutes



WILLIAM E. PHELPS.

improvement in Coal Chute.

N0.'121,,413.. 4 Patented Nov-28,1871.

f ZZZJJOJ: l' imfen orr- 'v W/Q. @iebm.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM E. PHELPS, OF ELMWOOD, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN COAL-CHUTES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121, 113, dated November 28, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. PHELPS, of Elmwood, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented certain Improvements in Goal-Chutes, of which the following is a specification:

The nature of my invention relates to improvements in coal-dumping apparatus for delivering coal to locomotive-tenders on railways; and the invention consists in the combination, with a suitable box provided with a slanting bottom, of a pivoted apron with a screen bottom, and also another apron pivoted to its under side, for the purpose of carrying back the screenings, all as hereinafter fully described.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention with the aprons folded up. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view with the aprons and doors in position for discharging coal. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the door to the coal-box and fastenings.

Arepresents the frame of the machine. B represents a box, supported on the frame A and having an inclined bottom, B, as shown. C is a door, hung, by pivots at its upper end, in the deep side of the box B. D D are latches on the door 0, engaging with catches d d and holding the door 0 closed when desired, and being released through the intervention of cords (1 cl and lever d. E is an apron or chute pivoted between the frame pieces A A just beneath the lower end of bottom B, so that it may be turned up, as shown at Fig. 1, or down, as shown at Fig. 2. The outer end of the apron-E is pierced With slots e e e e e, and provided with side pieces 6 e. G is an apron pivoted at one end to the outer end of the apron E, and extending back beneath the slats e e e e e in the apron E, and supported at the desired angle by the cords or chains g g.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The door 0 being closed and secured by latches D the box 13 may be filled with the desired quantity of coal, the aprons E and G being folded up. Thelocomotive-tender then coming up alongside, the apron E may be dropped so as to extend into itsinterior. The doorOnoW being opened the coal will be led by the apron E into the tender, the finer portion dropping through the slots 6 e e c e and being carried back by the apron G, on which they fall, away fi'om the tender and out of the way. The coal from the box B beingdischarged, the aprons may be again folded up and the tender moved away. Weights I may be placed on the inner end of the apron E to balance it when free from coal, and to render it somewhat easier operated.

I claim as my invention The aprons E and constructed as described, in combination with the box B and door 0, arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

WILLIAM E. PHELPS. Witnesses:

A. MOREY, A. HUFFMAN. 

